The proportion of persons away from home was statistically stable against the figure in the previous week (4.8%) and significantly below that in the first week of the survey, May 3 to 9 (19.8%). The unemployed population (13.7 million persons) and the unemployment rate (14.3%) increased from the revious week (12.6 million and 13.2%, respectively). In the same period, the number of persons with some flu-like symptom decreased from 12.4 million (or 5.9% of the population) to 11.3 million persons (or 5.3%).

PNAD COVID19 estimated at 82.2 million the employed population in the country between August 23 to 29, with stability against the preceding week (82.7 million persons) and a decrease from May 3 to 9  (83.9 million persons).

The employed population not away from work, estimated at 76.1 million persons, remained stable from the week before (75.9 million) but increased against that of May 3 to 9 (63.9 million). Among those persons, 83.3 million (or 10.9% of the employed popultion not away from work) were working remotely. That figure was stable from the preceding week (8.3 million or 10.9%). Against the period May 3 to 9, there was stability in absolute figures (8.6 million) and a decrease, in percentage terms (13.4%).

The employment -population ration (48.3%) remained stable against the preceding week (48.6%) and fell from May 3 to 9. 

The informality rate (34.0%) was stable against the preceding week  (33.4%), but fell from that in May 3 to 9 (35.7%).

About 3.6 million (or 4.4% of the employed population) were away from work due to social distancing. That figure was statistically stable from the previous week (4.0 million or 4.8%), but fell from May 3 to 9 (16.6 million or 19.8% of the emplyoyed persons).

 

The unemployed population (13.7 million persons) recorded an increase from the previous week, and also against May 3 to 9 (9.8 million). As a result, the unemployment rate (14.3%) for the period August 23 to 29 increased against the preceding week (13.2%) and also against the first week of May (10.5%).

The rate of participation in the workforce (56.3%) in the period August 23 to 29 was stable against the previous week (56.0%) and the first week of May (55.2%).

The population out of the workforce (those who were not working or searching for work) was of 74.4 million persons, and it remained stable against the previous week (75.0 million) and, also, against May 3 to 9 (76.2 million). From this group, a total 26.7 million persons (or 35.8% of the population out of the workforce) said they would like to work. That figure was stable against the preceding week (26.9 million or 35.9%) and against May 3 to 9 (27.1 million or 35.5%). 

Approximately 16.8 million persons out of the workforce and did not do it because of the pandemic or for not having or an occupation in the locality where they lived. They corresponded to 22.6% persons out of the workforce. That figure remained stable against the preceding week (17.1 million or 22.9%), but it decreased in comparison May 3 to 9 (19.1 million or 25.1%).

7.2 million students had no school activities in the week surveyed

Between August 23 and 29, Brazil had approximately 45.6 million students attending school or universities. From that total, 15.8% (or 7.2 million) did not have school activities in the fourth week of August. That figure was statistically stable against the previous week (7.3 million or 15.9% of the students) and fell in comparison with June 28 – July 04 (9.0 million or 20.0 % of the students). 

Among the 37.4 million students that had school activities in the fourth week of August, 24.8 million (or 66.3%) had activities for five days per week, with stability against the preceding week (25.0 million or 66.2%). 

About 88.6 million persons stayed home and went out only for basic necessities between August 23 and 29, which is equivalent to 41.9% of the population. That figure remained stable from the previous week (87. 6 million or 41.5% of the population). The amount of the population that was strictly isolated (18.4% or 38.9 million) fell against the previous week (19.7% or 41.6 million). The number of those who followed no social distancing measures (2.4% or 5.0 million) was stable against that in the previous week (2.1% or 4.5 million). The number of persons who reduced social contact but were still going out or having visitors (77.1 million or 36.5%) was stable against that in the previous week (76.4 million or 36.2%).

Number of persons with flu-like symptoms records decrease

From August 23 to 29, PNAD COVID19 estimated that 11.3 million persons (or 5.3% of the country’s population) had at least one of the 12 flu-like symptoms investigated by the survey (fever, cough, a sore throat, difficulty to breathe, a headache, chest pain, nausea, a runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, pain in the eyes, loss of smell or taste and muscular pain). That number decreased against the previous week (12.4 million or 5.9% of the population in the country) and also against May 3 to 9 (26.8 million or 12.7%). 

About 2.6 million persons (or 23.0% of those who had symptoms) sought medical assistance at a health establishment (community health center, famiky health team, UPA, SUS Emergency healthcare unit or hospital or even private ambulatory care, emergency healthcare unit or hospital). This figure was stable against that in the previous week (2.8 million or 2.5%). Compared to May 3 to 9 (3.7 million or 1e.7%), there was a decrease in absolute figures and increase in percentage terms.

About 799 thousand persons sought medical assistance at a public, private or military hospital in the period August 23 to 29. That figure recorded stability from the previous week (739 thousand) but fell against May 3 to 9 (1.1 million). Among persons who sought medical assistance at a hospital, 121 thousand (15.2%) were hospitalized, with stability against the previous week (227 thousand or 17.2%) and May 3 to 9 (97 thousand or 9.1%).